DE102020118339A1 - vehicle occupant restraint system - Google Patents

Abstract

A vehicle occupant restraint system comprises a vehicle seat (12) having a seat back (14) with a seat back surface (24), the seat back surface (24) being provided for a vehicle occupant (26) seated on the vehicle seat (12) to lean against, and with an airbag module (16) integrated into the vehicle seat (12) and comprising an airbag (18) which is U-shaped in a horizontal sectional plane, the airbag (18) having an L-shaped restraining section (20) and an L- shaped support section (22), wherein the L-shaped restraint section (20) has a fillable collecting section (30) forming a first leg of the L, which is positioned along a longitudinal direction (L) of the seat at a distance from the seat backrest surface (24) and which has a rebound surface (42) directed towards the seat back surface (24), which is intended to catch the vehicle occupant (26) in the event of a forward displacement along the longitudinal direction (L) of the seat, and a second leg el of the L-forming fillable connecting section (32) which connects the collecting section (30) to the vehicle seat (12), the L-shaped support section (22) having a first leg of the L-forming, fillable first support section (34). , which is positioned behind the backrest (14) along a seat longitudinal direction (L) and a second support section (36) forming a second leg of the L, which connects the first support section (34) to the vehicle seat (12), the connection section ( 32) of the restraining section (20) and the second support section (36) of the support section (22) form a transverse leg (40) of the U, the support section (22) having a support surface (44) directed towards the backrest (14) and one of the Seat back surface (24) away directed force (F) counteracts on the restraining portion (20) when the vehicle occupant (26) hits the impact surface (30) to the restraining portion (20) relative to the vehicle to stabilize the seat (12).

Description

The invention relates to a vehicle occupant restraint system.

Among other things, with regard to the topic of autonomous driving, considerations are being made to allow the vehicle occupants greater freedom with regard to their seating position. This entails that the position of the vehicle seats relative to other vehicle components becomes more uncertain. This creates the need to equip the vehicle seats with airbags that have sufficient inherent rigidity to be able to safely catch the occupant sitting on the associated seat even without the possibility of supporting them on other vehicle components.

The object of the invention is therefore to improve the stability and/or inherent rigidity of a gas bag in a vehicle occupant restraint system.

This object is achieved with a vehicle occupant restraint system that includes a vehicle seat having a seat back with a seat back surface, the seat back surface being provided for a vehicle occupant seated on the vehicle seat to lean against. In addition, an airbag module integrated into the vehicle seat is provided, which includes an airbag that is U-shaped in a horizontal sectional plane and includes an L-shaped restraint section and an L-shaped support section. The L-shaped restraining section has a fillable collecting section forming a first leg of the L, which is positioned along a longitudinal direction of the seat at a distance from the seat back surface, wherein the collecting section has an impact surface directed toward the seat back surface, which is intended to move along the occupant during forward displacement to catch the longitudinal direction of the seat. In addition, the L-shaped restraining section includes a fillable connecting section, which forms a second leg of the L and connects the collecting section to the vehicle seat. The L-shaped support section also has a first support section that forms a first leg of the L and can be filled, which is positioned behind the backrest along a longitudinal direction of the seat, and a second support section that forms a second leg of the L and connects the first support section to the vehicle seat . The connecting section of the restraint section and the second support section of the support section form a transverse leg of the U of the U-shaped airbag. In addition, the support section has a support surface facing the seat backrest and, when the gas bag is inflated, counteracts a force directed away from the seat backrest surface, which acts on the restraint section when the vehicle occupant hits the impact surface, in order to stabilize the restraint section relative to the vehicle seat.

In the unfolded state of the gas bag, the L-shaped support section is shaped in such a way that the support surface bears essentially positively on the side and rear of the backrest, so that the gas bag can be supported on the backrest and is thus stabilized. In particular, with a gas bag designed in this way, it can be achieved that the force introduced into the gas bag by the vehicle occupant can be diverted via the support section into the backrest and thus into the vehicle seat. This stabilization and support brought about by the support section via the gas bag geometry can thus increase the inherent rigidity of the gas bag, in particular of the restraint section, and the restraint section can be held in position better.

The restraining section, in particular the catching section, should as far as possible maintain the position in which the vehicle occupant is in the unloaded state, even while the vehicle occupant is being caught. In particular, the inclination of the restraining section to buckle to the side can thereby be prevented or at least limited to a minimum that is harmless for restraining the vehicle occupants. Vehicle-side support surfaces for the restraint section of the airbag can be dispensed with.

Since the entire airbag is integrated into the vehicle seat, the airbag is always in the correct position to catch the vehicle occupant in a restraint situation, even if the vehicle seat is rotated relative to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle or, for example, the backrest is folded back into a comfortable position.

Here, the seat front-rear direction is defined by the direction of arrangement of the seat back surface of the seat back and a seat portion on which the vehicle occupant sits, and corresponds to the direction in which the vehicle occupant faces on the seat. In a conventional seat alignment, the longitudinal direction of the seat coincides with a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. A seat elevation here corresponds to the vertical.

In one embodiment, the support section and the retaining section can be formed by one or more superimposed U-shaped chambers.

In a preferred embodiment, the restraint section and the support section are formed by two separate main chambers of the airbag. The main comb forming the support section mer and/or the main chamber forming the retaining section can, of course, have a plurality of chambers which are arranged in particular one above the other in the respective main chamber.

In one embodiment, the main chamber forming the support section can be formed by an additional gas bag. The additional gas bag is preferably arranged inside the gas bag, in particular at least in the area of the L-shaped support section. In further embodiments, the additional airbag arranged in the interior of the airbag can be arranged at least in sections in the connecting section of the restraint section.

In a typical embodiment, the main chamber forming the support section or the additional gas bag has a higher internal pressure in an inflated state than the main chamber forming the restraint section. Due to the higher internal pressure of the gas bag in the area of the support section, the support of the gas bag on the vehicle seat can be further improved and thus in particular the stability and inherent rigidity of the gas bag can be increased again.

In a typical embodiment, the gas bag module has a gas source, in particular a gas generator, for filling the gas bag. After activation, the gas generator first fills the additional airbag or the main chamber forming the support section before the gas flows into the main chamber forming the restraint section. For this purpose, the gas bag preferably has overflow openings and/or overflow valves, which are arranged in the lateral surface of the additional gas bag or in a main chamber partition. Alternatively, the additional gas bag and the main chamber forming the restraint section or the main chamber forming the support section and the main chamber forming the restraint section can also be assigned separate gas generators or the gas distribution can take place through a suitable gas diffuser.

Furthermore, the airbag, in particular the restraint section and/or the support section, can additionally comprise a stabilizing element.

A stabilizing element arranged in or on the restraint section is in particular designed such that it counteracts a force directed away from the seat back surface on the cushion section when the vehicle occupant impacts the impact surface in order to stabilize the cushion section with respect to the connecting section. Such a stabilizing element reduces a movement of the catching section in the longitudinal direction of the seat and thus in relation to the connecting section and helps to increase the dimensional stability of the airbag and can in particular stabilize the position of the catching section in relation to the connecting section. The inherent rigidity of the airbag can be further increased by the stabilizing element.

In principle it is possible to arrange the stabilizing element in an interior of the fillable area of the support section and/or the restraint section of the gas bag or outside of the fillable area.

In one embodiment, the stabilizing element is formed by one or more tethers running in an interior of the fillable area of the restraining section and/or the support section.

In preferred variants, at least one tether is provided in the fillable area of the airbag, in particular in the fillable area of the restraint section and/or the support section, which has an L-shape spread out flat, which corresponds to the L-shaped cross section of the restraint section and/or the support section. In addition, at least one tether can also be provided which, when spread out flat, has a U-shape which corresponds to the U-shaped cross section of the airbag. In these cases, the at least one tether has a flat design and its shape follows the outer contour of the gas bag or the outer contour of the restraint section and/or the support section. In a substantially upright position of the backrest, the at least one tether is aligned substantially horizontally in the unfolded and filled airbag.

The at least one tether is preferably connected to the jacket of the airbag and/or the jacket of the additional airbag at a number of points, in particular at least on the inner and outer surface part.

Furthermore, several, for example two, tethers can also be provided, which lie one above the other perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the seat and which divide the restraint section and/or the support section into several chambers that can be filled, one on top of the other.

In a further variant, the stabilizing element is formed by at least one tether that is coupled on the seat side to a retraction mechanism that shortens the length of the tether in the fillable area of the restraining section during the restraint situation. For example, it is possible to manufacture the tether from a webbing material or another suitable material and to provide a seat belt retractor or a belt tensioner as a retraction mechanism on the vehicle seat to which the tether is connected. The tether is preferably fastened on the gas bag side to the outer wall of the catching section opposite the impact surface, in particular to the outer surface part. If the restraint situation arises, the retraction mechanism is activated and pulls the tether towards itself, so that the effective length of the tether between the retraction mechanism and an attachment point of the tether in the catching section is shortened. This allows the catcher section to be drawn closer to the seat back surface. This can ensure that the catch section is stabilized in its position when the vehicle occupant dives into it. In addition, the force applied by the occupant to the catch section can also be absorbed by the catch strap and introduced into the vehicle seat. The retraction mechanism is activated, for example, shortly before or only when the occupant enters the gas bag.

In a further possible variant, the stabilizing element is arranged on the outside of the gas bag and comprises at least one fabric sail. In such a variant, the fabric sail is fixed in particular on the outside on the casing, on the collecting section and on the connecting section, at the transition formed by the collecting section and the connecting section. This measure additionally connects the catching section to the connecting section, and forces acting on the catching section when the occupant dives in can be absorbed by the connecting section and forwarded to the vehicle seat, so that the position of the catching section and the L-shape of the restraining section are additionally stabilized. The fabric sail is preferably designed as a right-angled triangle and is fixed with its two catheti on the outside of the connecting section and the outside of the collecting section, i.e. e.g. in each case at the transition from a side part to the outer surface part of the gas bag jacket, in order to achieve the best possible power transmission.

Of course, several additional stabilizing elements, also different ones, can be provided on the gas bag. All of the stabilizing elements described can complement one another and, individually or together, additionally increase the dimensional stability and inherent rigidity of the gas bag.

Furthermore, a fillable projection can be provided at a free end of the gas bag's collecting section, which extends in the direction of the seat back surface when the gas bag is completely inflated and which in particular delimits the impact surface at the free end of the collecting section. This fillable projection improves protection in the event of an oblique impact, for example, in which the occupant does not plunge into the impact surface perpendicularly, but rather is aligned with the free end of the collecting section. To stabilize this fillable projection, in particular at least one of the flat catch straps described above can also extend into the fillable projection and be connected there to the jacket of the gas bag.

In general, a jacket of the gas bag, which forms an outer wall of the gas bag, can be assembled from a number of cut parts. The blank parts preferably comprise at least two U-shaped side parts and an inner and an outer panel part which are each connected to the side parts at their peripheral edges. In addition, a front and/or rear edge part can be provided, which is connected to the two surface parts at a free end of the collecting section or the first support section. The impact surface of the collecting section can be part of the inner surface part. The front and/or the rear edge part can also be formed in one piece with the U-shaped side parts.

The jacket of the additional airbag, which encloses an area of the additional airbag that can be filled with inflation gas, is composed, for example, of two L-shaped side parts and an inner and an outer surface part, with the inner and outer surface parts being connected to the side parts at their peripheral edges.

In this way, all the cut parts can be designed in such a way that they can each be spread out flat, that is to say can be simply cut out of a web of fabric, while the finished gas bag has a complex three-dimensional shape.

Of course, the shape of the individual cut parts can be chosen at will at the discretion of the person skilled in the art, whereby, for example, sections of the above-mentioned cut parts can also merge into one another in one piece or can be realized on another cut part.

In one embodiment, the airbag has a substantially constant expansion along the vertical direction of the seat over the entire length of the U-shape, that is to say a substantially constant height. The collecting section, the connecting section and the first and the second support section thus have a constant height. The impact surface of the collecting section is thus approximately rectangular and preferably approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the seat direction and / or aligned substantially parallel to the seat back surface.

In an alternative embodiment, the support section has the same height, but the extent of the connection section of the restraint section increases along the vertical direction of the seat, i.e. the height of the connection section, starting from the backrest up to the transition to the collecting section (this point forms a corner at which the transverse limb and the longitudinal limb of the L of the retaining section adjoin each other). In this embodiment, too, the catching section preferably has a constant height and is in particular plate-shaped, so that the impact surface formed on the catching section has the same height at every point along a seat transverse direction.

In a further alternative embodiment it can be provided that additionally or only the expansion and thus the height of the second supporting section of the supporting section increases, starting from the attachment to the vehicle seat towards the first supporting section.

• - 1 eine schematische Draufsicht auf eines erfindungsgemäßen Fahrzeuginsassenrückhaltesystems mit einem Fahrzeugsitz und einem Gassack im vollständig befüllten Zustand;
• - 2 einen Teilbereich des Fahrzeugsitzes und einer ersten Ausführungsform den Gassack in einer Seitenansicht;
• - 3 den Fahrzeugsitz und den Gassack aus 2 in einer Rückansicht;
• - 4 den Gassack des erfindungsgemäßen Fahrzeuginsassenrückhaltesystem gemäß 2 und 3in einer schematischen perspektivischen Darstellung;
• - 5 den Gassack des erfindungsgemäßen Fahrzeuginsassenrückhaltesystems gemäß einer zweiten Ausführungsform in einer schematischen perspektivischen Darstellung; und
• - 6 das erfindungsgemäße Fahrzeuginsassenrückhaltesystem gemäß einer dritten Ausführungsform in einer schematischen perspektivischen Darstellung.

The invention is described in more detail below using several exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached figures. In the drawings show:

• - 1 a schematic plan view of a vehicle occupant restraint system according to the invention with a vehicle seat and an airbag in the fully inflated state;
• - 2 a portion of the vehicle seat and a first embodiment, the gas bag in a side view;
• - 3 the vehicle seat and the gas bag 2 in a rear view;
• - 4 according to the gas bag of the vehicle occupant restraint system according to the invention 2 and 3in a schematic perspective view;
• - 5 the gas bag of the vehicle occupant restraint system according to the invention according to a second embodiment in a schematic perspective view; and
• - 6 the vehicle occupant restraint system according to the invention according to a third embodiment in a schematic perspective view.

The figures show a vehicle occupant restraint system 10 with a vehicle seat 12 which includes a gas bag module 16 integrated into a backrest 14 .

In addition to the backrest 14, the vehicle seat 12 also has a conventionally known seat section 15, the backrest 14 and the seat section 15 being arranged one behind the other in a longitudinal direction L of the seat. In a conventional vehicle in a normal driving situation, the seat front-rear direction L coincides with a vehicle front-rear direction. However, it is also conceivable to provide driving situations in which the vehicle seat 12 is arranged in a different position, so that the longitudinal direction L of the seat deviates from the longitudinal direction of the vehicle or is even aligned opposite to it.

the 1 FIG. 1 shows the vehicle occupant protection system 10 in general, while details of preferred embodiments are illustrated in the additional figures.

Before a restraint situation occurs, a gas bag 18 is accommodated folded up in the gas bag module 16 . If a restraint situation occurs, the gas bag 18 is filled with inflation gas via a gas generator 38 and unfolds out of the backrest 14 into, for example into the 1 and 6 illustrated three-dimensional U-shaped form. In particular, a cross section through the airbag 18 along a horizontal sectional plane is U-shaped.

The gas bag 18 is composed of a fillable L-shaped restraint section 20 and an L-shaped support section, which in typical embodiments are flow-connected to one another.

The retention section 20 is composed of a collecting section 30 and an adjoining fillable connecting section 32 , with the collecting section 30 being in flow connection with the connecting section 32 . Collecting portion 30 and connecting portion 32 are, such as in FIGS 1 , 4 and 5 as can be seen, aligned approximately at right angles to one another, so that the collecting section 30 forms a first leg of the L and the connecting section 32 forms a second leg. The restraining section 20 extends from the inflation mouth 39 and the attachment of the gas bag 18 to the vehicle seat 12 to the free end 80.

The support section 22 is composed of a first support section 34 and an adjoining second support section 36 , the first support section 34 being in flow connection with the second support section 36 . The first support section 34 and the second support section 36 are in the unfolded and inflated state, such as in FIG 1 can be seen, approximately at right angles to each other and lie with a support surface 44 essentially in a form-fitting manner on a side and back section of the backrest 14, so that the first support section 30 forms a first and the second support section 32 forms a second leg of the L, with the L being arranged mirrored to the L of the return section 20 is. The support section 22 extends from the inflation mouth 39 and the attachment of the gas bag 18 to the vehicle seat 12 to the free end 82.

For example from the 4 and 5 shows, the first support section 34 and the second support section 36 can be designed in such a way that they are at an angle α ≤ 90°, in particular at an angle in the range of 60° ≤ α ≤ 90°, when they are not mounted on the vehicle seat 12 and are filled , are aligned with each other. Such an orientation of the first support section 34 to the second support section 36 at an angle α≦90° can additionally increase the stability and the inherent rigidity of the gas bag 18 .

How out 1 As can also be seen, the connecting section 32 and the second support section 36 extend approximately in the longitudinal direction L of the seat and represent the transverse leg of the U, while the catch section 30 and the first support section 34 extend approximately in a transverse seat direction Q running perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L of the seat and form the long legs of the U here. In the embodiment shown, the longitudinal leg of the U formed by the first support section 34 has a smaller extent in the transverse direction Q of the seat than the catching section 30, and is therefore shorter. Of course, the first support section 34 can also be approximately the same (see e.g. 5 ) or have a larger extent (not shown) in the transverse direction Q of the seat than the collecting section 30.

The lengths of the collecting section 30 and the first supporting section 34 as well as the connecting section 2 and the second supporting section 34 in the seat transverse or seat longitudinal direction Q, L can be freely selected at the discretion of the person skilled in the art.

The connecting section 32 and the second support section 36 are firmly connected to the gas bag module 16 in the backrest 14, while the catching section 30 lies freely in the vehicle interior in front of a seat backrest surface 24 of the backrest 14 and the first support section 32 lies freely and form-fittingly behind the backrest 14 on the rear the backrest 14 rests.

The seat back surface 24 is the surface against which a vehicle occupant 26 leans when he is seated on the vehicle seat 12 (see, for example, 2 ).

On the side facing the seat backrest surface 24 , the catching section 30 has an impact surface 42 which is provided to catch the vehicle occupant 26 during a forward displacement along the longitudinal direction L of the seat. The impact surface 42 is located opposite the seat backrest surface 24 at a distance, so that the collecting section 30 of the completely filled gas bag 18 is arranged approximately over the thighs of the vehicle occupant 26 .

When the gas bag 18 is inflated, the impact surface 42 lies approximately parallel to the vertical direction H of the seat and/or parallel to the seat backrest surface 24.

The airbag can have an approximately constant height h along the vertical direction of the seat, as for example in FIGS 2 until 5 shown.

In an alternative embodiment, as in 6 shown, the free end 80 of the collecting section 30 has a height h ₂ along the vertical direction H of the seat. The collecting section 30 also has approximately the same height h ₂ at a transition 31 to the connecting section 32 . In the course of the connecting section 32 , the height decreases to a height h ₁ , which the gas bag 18 assumes directly on the backrest 14 . the inside 6 _{The gas bag 18 shown also has the height h 1} in the course of the second support section 36 and the first support section. Of course, it can also be provided (not shown) that the height h of the collecting section 30, the first supporting section 34 and/or the second supporting section 36 decreases or increases in the respective course. Such an adjustment of the height h can be chosen freely at the discretion of the person skilled in the art.

The jacket of the airbag 18 can be manufactured, for example, from a number of individual blanks that can each be spread out flat, with an inner and an outer surface part 72, 74 being arranged parallel to one another and being connected to the peripheral edges of two U-shaped side parts 76, 78 . The free ends 80, 82 of the capture portion 30 and the first support portion 34 may be formed by a separate edge member, such as a separate blank, or integrally formed with one or both of the side members 76,78.

The U-shaped side parts 76, 78 give the airbag 18 the three-dimensional U-shape when inflated.

As for example in the 4 and 5 shown, the gas bag 18 comprises two main chambers mers 46 and 48, with a first main chamber 46 essentially forming the retention portion 20 and a second main chamber essentially forming the support portion 22. This makes it possible, for example, for the first and second main chambers 46, 48, and thus also the retaining section 20 and the support section 22, to have a different internal pressure in a filled state. In particular, it is provided that the second main chamber 48 and thus the support section 22 have a higher internal pressure in order to thereby increase the stability of the gas bag 18 .

In the region of the support section 22, the gas bag 18 can comprise an additional gas bag 50, the second main chamber 48 preferably being formed by the additional gas bag 50. The additional gas bag 50 is formed by a separate gas bag, which is arranged inside the gas bag 18 . At the in 5 In the airbag 18 shown, the additional airbag 50 protrudes approximately up to the transition region 21 of the restraint section 20 into the connecting section 32 of the restraint section

The jacket of the additional gas bag 50 is constructed similarly to the jacket of the gas bag 18, the additional gas bag having L-shaped side parts instead of the U-shaped side parts 76, 78, which give the additional gas bag 50 the three-dimensional shape when inflated.

When the gas bag 18 is being filled by the gas generator 38, the second main chamber 48 formed by the additional gas bag 50 can first be filled before the first main chamber 46 is filled via overflow openings and/or overflow valves, which can be arranged, for example, in a main chamber partition 70. Alternatively, the two main chambers 46 and 48 can also be filled at the same time, for example via a suitable diffuser of the gas generator 38 , or a separate gas generator 38 can be assigned to each of the main chambers 46 and 48 .

The L-shape of the restraining section 20 and/or the supporting section 22, in particular the angle between the collecting section 30, more precisely the impact surface 42, and the connecting section 32 and/or the angle between the first supporting section 34 and the second supporting section 36 in a restraining situation to stabilize when the vehicle occupant 26 hits the impact surface 42 and to reduce a movement of the collecting section 30 along the longitudinal direction L of the seat, the gas bag can comprise one or more stabilizing elements 52 .

In the 2 until 6 the stabilizing element 52 is in the form of one or more flat, L-shaped ( 2 until 5 ) or U-shaped ( 6 ) Retaining straps 54 shown.

the 2 until 4 show a variant in which the tethers 54 divide the two main chambers 46 and 48 in the seat vertical direction H into two sub-chambers 56 and 58 and 60 and 62 lying one above the other.

But it is also possible that, as for example in 5 shown, only the second main chamber 48 is divided into two partial chambers 60 and 62 by a flat tether 54 . In this embodiment, sufficient stability and inherent rigidity of the gas bag 18 can already be achieved, inter alia, by the additional gas bag 50 which protrudes into the restraint section 20 and is filled with a higher internal pressure. In addition, in this embodiment, the stability and inherent rigidity of the gas bag 18 is increased in that the angle α between the first support section 34 and the second support section 36 is less than 90° and that the second support section 36 and the connecting section 32, which connect the transverse leg 40 of the U form in, are aligned at an angle of less than 180° to one another.

It is also possible, as in 6 shown to provide several superimposed flat tethers 56.

The flat tether 56 is, for example, a fabric part whose shape corresponds to the upper or lower side part 76, 78 of the jacket and thus to the U-shaped cross section of the gas bag 18, or a fabric part whose shape corresponds to the L-shaped cross section of the additional gas bag 50 , the retaining portion 20 or the support portion 22 corresponds. The flat tether 56 is preferably arranged approximately parallel to the side parts 76, 78 inside the gas bag 18 or the additional gas bag 50 and is fastened to the jacket of the gas bag 18 or the additional gas bag 50 along its circumference. It is possible to connect the flat tether 56 to the jacket of the gas bag 18 along its entire circumference, or only at certain sections. For example, this is in 4 The limiting strap 54 located in the restraining section 20 of the gas bag 18 is connected at the edge to the inner surface part 72 , the outer surface part 74 and additionally to the additional gas bag 50 via a connecting seam 84 .

On the gas bag 18 in 1 two further possible stabilization elements 52 are shown. It is possible to provide the stabilization elements 52 individually or in any combination on the gas bag 18 .

In one variant, the stabilizing element 52 can be secured by a tether 64 (in 1 represented by a dash-two-dot line) which is connected to the backrest 14, in this example with a retraction mechanism 66, and to the impact surface 42 opposite outside of the casing on the collecting section 30. The area 21 that can be filled is the volume of the retention section 20 that is filled with filling gas by the gas generator and that is formed here by the main chamber 46 . The retraction mechanism 66 connected to which the tether 64 is connected to the backrest 14 in this example is configured to reduce a free length of the tether 64 during the restraint situation. The retraction mechanism 66 is, for example, a belt retractor or a belt tensioner (not shown in detail). The retraction mechanism 66 is activated while or after the gas bag 18 is being inflated or the vehicle occupant 26 impacts the impact surface 42 in order to generate a tensile force towards the seat back surface 24 which corresponds to the force F applied by the vehicle occupant 26 to the cushioning section 30 (see 2 ) counteracts and additionally stabilizes the collecting section 30 in relation to the connecting section 32 .

In a further variant, the stabilizing element 52 is replaced by a flat fabric sail 68 (in 1 represented by a dash-dot line) which is attached to the outside of the gas bag 18 outside of the fillable region 21 at the transition 31 between the connecting section 32 and the collecting section 30 parallel to the upper side part 78 or parallel to the lower side part 76 of the casing of the gas bag 18 . The fabric sail 68 here has the shape of a right-angled triangle, with the two legs of the triangle being fixed to the outer surface part 74, in particular to a connecting seam between the outer surface part 74 and the respective side part 76, 78. The hypotenuse of the triangle thus runs from the connecting section 32 to the collecting section 30. The fabric sail 68 can also additionally stabilize the collecting section 30 relative to the connecting section 32 when the vehicle occupant 26 strikes the impact surface 42. Such a fabric sail 68 can of course also be attached to the outside of the gas bag 18 outside of the fillable region 23 at the transition 33 between the second support section 36 and the first support section 34 parallel to the upper side part 78 or parallel to the lower side part 76 of the casing of the gas bag 18.

The stabilizing elements 52 described can be used together, alone or in any combination at the discretion of the person skilled in the art in order to further increase the stability and/or inherent rigidity of the gas bag 18 .

Claims (10)

Vehicle occupant restraint system with a vehicle seat (12) having a backrest (14) with a seat back surface (24), the seat back surface (24) being provided for a vehicle occupant (26) sitting on the vehicle seat (12) to lean against it, and with an airbag module (16) integrated into the vehicle seat (12) and comprising an airbag (18) which is U-shaped in a horizontal sectional plane, wherein the gas bag (18) comprises an L-shaped restraint section (20) and an L-shaped support section (22), wherein the L-shaped restraining section (20) has a collecting section (30) that forms a first leg of the L and that can be filled, which is positioned along a longitudinal direction (L) of the seat at a distance from the seat backrest surface (24) and the one directed towards the seat backrest surface (24). impact surface (42), which is intended to catch the vehicle occupant (26) in the event of a forward displacement in the longitudinal direction (L) of the seat, and a fillable connection section (32) forming a second leg of the L, which includes the catch section (30) with connects to the vehicle seat (12), wherein the L-shaped support section (22) has a fillable first support section (34) forming a first leg of the L, which is positioned along a longitudinal direction (L) of the seat behind the backrest (14) and one forming a second leg of the L second support section (36) connecting the first support section (34) to the vehicle seat (12), wherein the connecting section (32) of the retaining section (20) and the second support section (36) of the support section (22) form a transverse leg (40) of the U, wherein the support section (22) has a support surface (44) directed toward the backrest (14) and counteracts a force (F) directed away from the seatback surface (24) on the restraining section (20) when the vehicle occupant (26) impacts on the impact surface ( 30) to stabilize the restraining portion (20) relative to the vehicle seat (12). Vehicle occupant restraint system claim 1 , characterized in that the airbag comprises two separate main chambers (46, 48), in particular with a first main chamber (46) essentially forming the restraint section (20) and a second main chamber (48) essentially forming the support section (22). Vehicle occupant restraint system claim 2 , characterized in that the main chamber forming the support section (22). (48) is formed by an additional gas bag (50), the additional gas bag (50) being arranged in particular in the interior of the gas bag (18). Vehicle occupant restraint system claim 2 or 3 , characterized in that the main chamber (48) forming the support section (22) or the additional airbag (50) in an inflated state has a higher internal pressure than the restraint section (20) or the main chamber (46) forming the restraint section (20). Vehicle occupant restraint system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gas bag (18), in particular the restraint section (20) and/or the support section (22), comprises a stabilizing element (52). Vehicle occupant restraint system claim 5 characterized in that the stabilizing element (52) is formed by one or more tethers (54) running inside an area (21, 23) of the restraining section (20) and/or the support section (22) that can be filled. Vehicle occupant restraint system claim 5 or claim 6 , characterized in that at least one tether (54) is provided which, when spread out flat, has an L-shape which corresponds to the L-shaped cross section of the retaining section (20) and the support section (22) or that at least one tether (54) is provided, which has a U-shape when spread out flat, which corresponds to the U-shaped cross section of the gas bag (18). Vehicle occupant restraint system claim 6 or 7 , characterized in that the at least one tether (54) divides the restraint section and/or the support section into a plurality of fillable partial chambers (56, 58, 60, 62) lying one above the other perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L) of the seat. Vehicle occupant restraint system claim 5 or claim 6 , characterized in that at least one tether (64) is provided, which is coupled to a retraction mechanism (66) on the seat side, which shortens the length of the tether (64) in the fillable area (21) of the restraint section (20) during the restraint situation. Vehicle occupant restraint system claim 5 , characterized in that the stabilizing element (52) is arranged on the outside of the gas bag (18), in particular as a fabric sail (68) which is fixed to the collecting section (30) and to the connecting section (32) in a transition (31) which passes through the collecting section (30) and the connecting section (32) is formed.

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